Ways to Choose a Pneumatic Nailer

Selecting a pneumatic nailer can often feel like an overwhelming task, because there are numerous features and options to choose from. Visiting home improvement stores and shopping online is less daunting when you are supplied with informative advice.

The following steps will guide you in choosing a pneumatic nailer for your needs based on project type, function, trigger mechanism, nail depth and size, and general maintenance.

Determine your project. Based on the job type, choose whether a coil nail gun or a stick nail gun will be appropriate. A coil pneumatic nail gun can can hold more nails and is very maneuverable, but it is more costly. A stick pneumatic nail gun is best for smaller jobs and is much less expensive.

Decide the function of your nailer. Flooring pneumatic nailers are manufactured to nail down wood flooring. Finish pneumatic nailers are generally used to nail furniture items. Roofing pneumatic nailers are designed to nail down shingles. Framing pneumatic nailers are used to push long nails into thick objects. Some nailers can do more than one function.

Choose your preferred trigger mechanism. A squeeze and release mechanism distributes one nail at a time and is usually found on high end professional nailers. A bump-fire mechanism allows you to squeeze the trigger and then bump the area where you desire the nail to go. A one-for-one trigger mechanism will drive one nail each time the trigger is squeezed.

Look for a pneumatic nailer that allows for easy nail depth adjustment. This will help control how far down your nails will be driven.

Many projects require a variety of nail sizes. Select a pneumatic nailer that easily adjusts for multiple nail sizes to avoid reloading delays.

Research the maintenance required for the pneumatic nailer. Check to see if it needs to be oiled and how often. If the nailer needs to be serviced, note whether special tools are needed or if it can be repaired at the job site.